17 - Our Home, Our DecisionsItem No. 17
TO: City Council
John Godwin, City Manager
FROM: Janice Ellis, City Clerk
SUBJECT: "OUR HOME, OUR DECISIONS"
DATE: October 8, 2018
BACKGROUND: In an effort to oppose legislative interference with local control, finances, and
service provision, we feel it is important to advocate the Texas Municipal League's "Our Home,
Our Decisions" Campaign.
STATUS OF ISSUE: This campaign is a result of the last legislative session and the growing
threat to local control, including attacks on annexation, restrictions on local authority, and
proposed revenue caps for cities. Such a revenue cap could have a significant on cities,
including Pairs, and that would mean reduced services for our citizens. Over 1,800 bills having
to do with Texas cities were proposed last legislative session, and this is just one of them.
Experts anticipate that number to increase in the next session, which will begin in January 2019.
The best decisions are made at the city level by mayors and council members, because the local
governing body is closest to the people and understands more than state government what the
residents of Paris need and want.
BUDGET: Minimal costs, if any.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize letters in support of Our Home, Our Decisions to State
Senator Bryan Hughes and State Representative Gary VanDeaver and opposing bills that would
take away the city's authority to make decisions at a local level, and authorize interested council
members to advocate with local civic groups.
It's the place where your and your farnfly five. It's your home, your
neighborhood, your cormnrmuunuty. And you should have a voice In
decusuons -that affect you and everyone In your community,
But your abIfity to contunue Ihaviing a voice In vital decusuons
affectung your neighborhood and your cormmnu.unuty 6s under assault
froinm Ipollutucuans In state government in Austen. 'They want to force
every town and city un 'Texas to conform to their edeas and they
have the (power to do It,.
The drarmnatuc growth in jobs and Ipopuullatuon in 'Texas
cutues In recent decades its Induslpuutable
proof -that -the
decllsuons Texans have made at
the local levee have produced
r
the (kind of connimuanutues where
IpeolpBe want to Iliiveg world, and
do buusiiness„ Year after year,
Texas towns and ciitiies lead the
nation In 'the number of cormlpanues
and Ipeople mnovung here. Even
so, some IpolitilcIans want you 2171,
to beheve people In corn mnuunIties
across the s'ta'te are adoptun
job-MIlIn Iponuciies that are
un-ffiendVy 'fo busuness.
The reaVoty we see around us
every day (proves 'they are tryIng
1 1
to imislead us.
'The success 'Texas ciides
have had in attracting
people and bu.usunesses us
the envy of the nat'oon.
But that success comes
with challenges such as
maddening traffic congestion
and the need for more police
officers, fiirefu lhters, water and
sewer Runes„ trash collection, and
all the other VocaN serviices we all
depend on. In Texas, state government provides no funding for city services
aside from some small grant programs so it is up to cities to find ways to pay for
the state's growing needs.
The most important decisions we must make as a community involve the level of
services we want and how much we are willing to pay for them. Those decisions
should be made by you and the people you and your neighbors elect locally to
lead your community and not legislators who live hundreds of miles away.
One size snot filt all
As Texans, we're proud that our state is unlike any of the others and the same
holds true for our pride in our home towns. The unique character of each city is
shaped by the priorities and values of the people who live there.
Texans don't want to be told they have to conform to one way of thinking or one
way of living - whether it comes from Washington or from Austin. Texans don't
care whether people in other communities make decisions that differ from the
ones in their home town. Whether it's burnt orange or maroon, sweetened or un-
sweetened, red salsa or green - there's not just one way of being Texan.
But there's one thing all Texans can agree on: We want to continue making our
own decisions about our home towns.
QO)O u r Home
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Texas Municipal League, 1821 Rutherford Lane, Suite 400, Austin, Texas 78754